Gripping device

ABSTRACT

A gripping device is provided that has a pair of roller support members attached to a support means, the support members having confronting converging roller surfaces, with a resiliently secured roller on each surface in confronting relationship to the other roller. Motion of a member frictionally secured between the rollers in a direction away from the direction of convergence of the surfaces is easily achieved while any movement of the member in the direction of convergence of the surfaces causes a secure gripping of the member restraining it from such movement.

United States Patent Merola Dec. 25, 1973 GRIPPING DEVICE 3,298,666l/l967 Prange 226/162 x 3,473,393 10/1969 Zaruba 74/25 [75] Inventor:Amhmy Memla Pmsburgh, 3,556,376 1/1971 Offterdinger 294/102 x [73]Assignee: Amerola Products Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa. Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant Examiner.1ohnnyD. Cherry [22] Filed 1971 Attorney-Parmeiee, Utzler & We1sh 21 Appl.No.1 193,599

Related US. Application Data 57 ABSTRACT [62] 3 2 32 825369 May 1969 Agripping device is provided that has a pair of roller I support membersattachedto a support means, the sup- [52] US Cl 226/151 74/25 294/102 Rport members having confronting converging roller [51] Int. Cl. 3365b17/10 surfaces, with a resiliently secured roller on each sur- [58]Field 114 116 face in confronting relationship to the other roller.24/263 65 Motion of a member frictionally secured between the 3 6 6rollers in a direction away from the direction of convergence of thesurfaces is easily achieved while any [56] References Cited movement ofthe member in the direction of convergence of the surfaces causes asecure gripping of the UNn-ED STATES PATENTS member restraining it fromsuch movement. 901,925 10/1908 Thompson 294/114 X 1,431,928 lO/1922Brown 294/114 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 2 5 I975 SHEET 2BF 3 PATENTEU DEC 25 975 SHEET 30F 3 FIG. Z

GRIPPING DEVICE Thisv is a divisional application of application Ser.No. 825,369, filed May 16, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,708.

BACKGROUND o TIIE INVENTION Devices for gripping and securely holding aworkpiece are as numerous as the different uses to which such devicesmay be put. Usually, a specific clamp or gripping device is engineeredfor a specific use. Often such devices are complex, have a great manymoving parts that must be maintained in good operating condition, andare unsuited other than for some specific use.

I have invented a gripping device that is of simple construction,requires minimum operating procedures and can be used for a multitude ofdifferent purposes on workpieces such as sheets of metal, paper, orcloth, plates of metal or the like, rods or conduits, and is evenadaptable for use as a transfer mechanism where reciprocating motion isprovided for either the gripping device or a cooperating rail or bar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a grippingdevice is provided having a pair of roller support members held inspaced relation by a support means, the roller support members havingconfronting converging roller surfaces that terminate spaced from eachother, and a resiliently secured roller on each surface, the rollersbeing in confronting relation in rest position and adapted tofrictionally secure a workpiece inserted between the rollers. When aworkpiece such as a plate, sheet or rail'is placed between andfrictionally engaged by the rollers, movement of the workpiece in thedirection of divergence of the surfaces causes the rollers to roll onsaid surfaces increasing the space between the confronting rollers, butany attempt to move the workpiece in the direction of convergence of thesurfaces will cause the rollers to roll on the surfaces in convergingrelation decreasing the space between the rollers and resulting in moresecure gripping of the workpiece by the rollers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thegripping device of the present invention in the form of a hand gripper;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the gripping device shown in FIG. 1with a workpiece hold thereby;

FIG. 3 is aside elevational view with cutaway portions of anotherembodiment of the gripping device of the present invention having areleasing means on the device and an alternate method of securing theresilient securing means to the rollers;

FIG. 4 is a fragmented view of a gripping device of the presentinvention for use on the vertical edge of a sheet or plate material;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the present inventionwhere the gripping device is subjected to a reciprocal motion so as toadvance a bar or rail by alternate gripping and releasing of the rail;and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the present inventionwhere a rail having the gripping device thereon is subjected to areciprocal motion so as to advance the gripping device by alternategripping and releasing of the rail by the device.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the present inventionwhere a gripping device carries a reciprocating means cooperating with astationary rail to cause advancement of the device along the rail. I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated thegripping device 1 of the present invention in the form of a hand gripperfor sheet or plate material. A pair of roller support members 5 and 5'are maintained in opposed spaced relation by a support means 3, hereinillustrated as a bridge between two ends of the support members. Thesupport members terminate at 7 and 7' in spaced relation and haveconfronting converging roller surfaces 9 and 9, converging in thedirection of the terminals 7 and 7 Positioned on each roller surface 9and 9' is a friction roller 11 and 11' respectively which areresiliently secured to the surface 9 and 9 by means of resilientsecuring means 13, herein illustrated as rubber strips. Preferably theresiliently securing means 13 are recessed in grooves 12 of the rollers11 and 11 so as to provide a relatively smooth surface on the rollers.The rollers 11 and 11', herein illustrated as formed from rubber, areresiliently secured to the roller surfaces in confronting relation toeach other. For convenience, a handle means 21 is attached by a bolt 23or other securing means to enable ready lifting of the gripping device.If desired, depressions 19 may be formed in the outer wall of the rollersupport members to provide protection for the resilient means 13 againstabrasion which might occur if the resilient means were exposed.

The operation of the gripping devices is shown in FIG. 2, wherein aworkpiece, here illustrated as a metallic plate 15 has been insertedbetween the terminals 7 and 7' of the gripping device I and between theconfronting friction rollers 11 and 11. The workpiece 15 urges therollers 11 and 11' in the direction away from the teminals. Thethickness of the plate is at least as great as to the spacing betweenthe rollers. The rollers 11 and 11 roll on the surfaces 9 and 9 in adirection away from the terminals 7 and 7' but, because of resilientmeans 13, will frictionally secure the workpiece. Any movement of theworkpiece 15 in the direction of convergence of the surfaces 9 and 9'will cause the rollers 11 and 11 to roll towards terminals 7 and 7decreasing the spacing between the rollers and thus causing a tightergrip on the workpiece. When carrying a workpiece 15, such as illustratedin FIG. 2, the weight of the workpiece 15 will cause movement of therollers in the direction of convergence of the surfaces 9 and 9' and theweight of the workpiece itself causes a more secure gripping thereof bythe gripping device.

To remove the workpiece from the gripping device the workpiece can bemoved, until free of the rollers, in the direction of .the horizontalaxes of the rollers or released merely by holding the workpiecestationary and urging the rollers in the direction of devergence of thesurfaces 9 and 9', in which case the spacing between the rollers isincreased and the workpiece released from its frictional securement.Such urging can be done either manually or by a releasing means on theroller support members. One such releasing means is illustrated in FIG.3, wherein the support means 3 also serves as the handle for thegripping device. Releasing means is illustrated as plunger 29 havingarms 31 which are provided within a space in the roller support members5 and 5 and operate a releasing lever 25 pivotally mounted on a pin 27.When the releasing means isat rest, the ends of arms 31 rest on thelever 25. To release a workpiece fromthe gripping device, the plunger 29is forced downwardly, thereby pivoting the exposed end of lever upwardlyto urge rollers 11 and 11' in the direction of divergence of thesurfaces 9 and 9', increasing the space beween the rollers and releasingthe workpiece from its frictional securement, therebetween. Othersuitable releasing means-are possible such as levers extendingcompletely through the roller support means wherethe lever could bedepressed and urge the rollers, so long as the means provide for theurging of the rollers 11 and 11' in the direction of divergenceof thesurfaces 9 and 9. t The rollers inFlG. 3 are illustrated as metalliccylinders 37- having a rubber sleeve or outer ring 35. An optionalresilient securing means is also illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein themetallic cylinders 37 have pins 33 extending from both ends of thecylinder at its horizontal axis with the resilient means 13 secured tothe pins 33, and passed through apertures 39 in the roller supportmembers 5 and 5'.

The friction rollers are adapted to frictionally engage a workpieceinserted therebetween. The rollers may be of a hard rubber material thatprovides good frictional engagement and a degree of displacement thereoffor added frictional securing of the workpiece. The rollers can be madeof other materials such as metallic cylinders having a rubber coating orsleeve thereon or metallic cylinders such as aluminum or stainless steelrollers having a serrated or knurled rolling surface to givegood-frictional engagement between the roller and the workpiece. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the roller may have recesses to receive theresilient securing means, providing a relativelysmooth surface. Theroller may be a cyl inder with concave or convex configuration so as tobetter grip rounded objects such as pipes, rods, conduits or the like,in which case the roller surfaces 9 and 9' of the roller support memberscan be 'made to conform with the configuration of the rollers thereon.

The rollers are resiliently secured to the roller support members, onthe roller surfaces thereof, by resilient means such as rubber strips,springs, or other resilient securing means that will allow rolling ofthe rollers on the surfaces while at the same time urging the rollersback to their confronting rest position. The resilient means, incooperation with the roller surfaces maintain the longitudinal axes ofthe rollers generally parallel or coplaner during the roller travel. Therollers, when at rest position and in confronting relation to eachother, may contact each other or be spaced apart, depending upon the enduse to which the gripping device is to be put. If paper, cloth or otherthin sheet material is to be gripped by the gripping device, the rollerscan be in contacting relationship and the sheet material pulled betweenthe rollers. When the sheet material has been urged between the rollersit will be secured thereby and, as previously discussed, any attempt topull the sheet material therefrom will cause the rollers to roll in thedirection of convergence of the roller surface and result in a tightergrip. For larger workpieces such as plates of glass or metal, therollers may be spaced apart at rest position a distance so that theplate only urges the rollers a short distance and will be gripped wheninserted between the rollers. Because the rollers become further apartas they roll on their corresponding surfaces when a workpiece urges themin the direction away from the terminals, a single gripping device canbe used for varying sizes of items.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4wherein the roller support members 5 and 5 are attached to a supportmeans 41- that comprises a base member. The roller support members 5 and5' are attached to the base member 41 with the confronting convergingsurfaces 9 and 9 being generally normal to the base 41, and the rollers11 and 11 in spaced relation to each other. By having a base member 41as shown, the gripping device can be used to grip and lift the verticalend of a sheet or plate of glass or metal and the plate need not begripped from thetop or horizontal edge thereof. The gripping device canbe placed on the vertical end of the plate and by lifting the grippingdevice, using preferably a handle 42, on the rear of the base, therollers 11 and 11 will be forced to roll towards the terminals andtightly grip the edge portion of the plate or workpiece 15 causing it tolight also. By providing two such gripping devices, one at each verticalend of the plate, a large plate can be carried relatively easily eventhough no finger holds or other aids are present on the plate material.The gripping device is released from the workpiece as above described bysliding it transverse the direction of roll of the rollers or by urgingthe rollers upwardly, enlarging the space therebetween to release theworkpiece.

The gripping device has numerous other application, such as thoseillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 where it can be used as a transfermechanism through its gripping and releasing ability. Referring to FIG.5, there is illustrated a gripping device similar to that of FIG. 4wherein the roller support members 5 and 5 are attached to a base 41with the converging surfaces 9 and 9 generally normal to base 41. Therollers 11 and 11 are resiliently secured to the roller support membersand are spaced apart a predetermined distance. Preferably, legs 51 and51, or other guide means are provided to align a rail with the spacebetween the rollers. The base is then attached to a reciprocatingmechanism such asa shaft 45 being rotated by a motor (not shown) and aneccentric 43 adapted to translate the rotational the arrow in thedrawing, by a gripping and releasing action caused by thereciprocationof the gripping device in relation to the rail 47. As shownin the FIG. 5, the gripping device, when it is moved in the direction tothe right by means (not shown), will carry the rail 47 with it becauseof the gripping action of the rollers 11 and 11' as they are urged inthe direction of convergence of the surfaces 9 and 9'. On the returnstroke, to the left, the gripping action of the rollers will be releasedsince the rollers will be urged in the direction opposite convergence ofthe surfaces 9 and 9, enlarging the distance between the rollers. Thisreleasing will result in retaining of the rail in its advanced positionwhile the gripping device is moved to the left. Thus by a series ofreciprocating movements, causing alternate gripping and releasing of therail, the rail will be advanced in the direction shown.

The provision of relative reciprocation between a workpiece and thegripping device effects a resultant unidirectional relative movementbetween the two and may be effected by other means such as described inF IG. 6 where the gripping device can be used as a trans- 'fer mechanismfor pellets and the like. As shown, a gripping device and a rail 49 areused similar to those described in FIG. 5 but the rail is adapted toreciprocate (by reciprocating means not shown) and through the alternategripping and releasing of the rail by the gripping device, the grippingdevice is caused to advance to the left. The alternate gripping andreleasing effect caused by the rollers 11 and 11 traveling on therespective converging surfaces 9 and 9' of the rollers support members 5and 5' advances the gripping device, which may be part of a pallet orhave a pallet attached thereto. Also, a stationary rail with areciprocating means on the gripping device could cause advancement ofthe device along the rail through the alternate gripping and releasingaction of the rollers of the gripping device. As an example of such anarrangement, FIG. 7 illustrates a gripping device 53 mounted on astationary rail 55, the gripping device having rollers 11 and 11' whichtravel on converging surfaces 9 and 9'. As illustrated therein, a cammember 57 is carried by the shaft of motor 59, which cam travels in thedirection of the arrow shown. With the cam member, alternate movement ofthe gripping device 53 along stationary rail 55 is effected by alternatecontact of the cam surface with the rail. When the cam 57 is not incontact with the gripping device, reciprocation of the device in thedirection opposite to the arrow shown on the device is effected, andsuch reciprocable motion moves the device along the stationary rail.

The relative dimensions of the rail and the spacing between the rollersin their rest position where the gripping device is to be used as atransfer mechanism should be approximately the same, with the railperhaps being slightly larger than the distance between the rollers toprovide a secure placement thereof. Guide means such as inner extendinglegs 51 may be provided to align the rail with the rollers.

There has been described a gripping device of simple construction thatprovides frictional securement of a workpiece between confrontingrollers. The rollers, being resiliently secured to rollers supportmembers having confronting converging surfaces, securely grip aworkpiece inserted therebetween and provide increased gripping when itis attempted to move the workpiece in the direction of convergence ofthe surfaces, while the workpiece is easily released if moved in theopposite direction. The ready gripping and releasing action of thegripping device also enables its use as a transfer mechanism wherereciprocal motion is used to advance either a gripping device on areciprocating rail, a reciprocating device on a stationary rail, or arail through a reciprocating gripping device.

I claim:

l. A gripping device comprising a. a support means comprising a basemember,

b. a pair of roller support members attached to said base membermaintained in opposed spaced relation by said support means and havingconfronting converging roller sufaces terminating in spaced relation toeach other, said surfaces being generally normal to said base member.

c. a pair of friction rollers,

d. means for resiliently securing each of said rollers to a saidconverging surface in a rest position in confronting relation to theother said roller with said rollers spaced apart a predetermineddistance,

so that a workpiece when inserted through the space between the teminalsof said support members and betweensaid confronting rollers will urgesaid rollers in the direction away from said terminals and befrictionally engaged by said resiliently secured rollers, whereuponmovementof the workpiece in the direction of said terminals increasesthe gripping forces applied by the rollers, and, in combination,

e. a workpiece disposed therebetween said rollers,

and

. means for effecting relative reciprocation between the workpiece andthe gripping device so as to effect a resultant unidirectional relativemovement therebetween.

2. The combination as described in claim 1 wherein the workpiece isreciprocated and the gripping device moves unidirectionally relative tothe workpiece.

3. The combination as described in claim 1 wherein the gripping deviceis reciprocated and the workpiece moves unidirectionally relative to thegripping device.

4. A gripping device comprising a. a support means comprising a basemember,

b. a pair of roller support members attached to said base membermaintained in opposed spaced relation by said support means and havingconfronting converging roller surfaces terminating in spaced relation toeach other said surfaces being generally normal to said base member,

c. a pair of friction rollers,

d. means for resiliently securing each of said rollers to a saidconverging surface in a rest position in confronting relation to theother said roller with said rollers spaced apart a predetermineddistance, so that a workpiece when inserted through the space betweenthe terminals of said support members and between said confrontingrollers will urge said rollers in the direction away from said terminalsand be frictionally engaged by said resiliently secured rollers,whereupon movement of the workpiece in the direction of said terminalsincreases the gripping forces applied by the rollers, and

e. in combination therewith, a rail adapted for reciprocation wherebysaid gripping device when positioned on said rail, with said railbetween said rollers, is by reciprocation of the rail advanced along therail by alternate gripping and releasing of the reciprocating rail bythe gripping device.

5. A gripping device as described in claim 4 wherein alignment means arepositioned on said base member to align said rail between said rollers.

6. A gripping device comprising a. a support means comprising a basemember,

b. a pair of roller support members attached to said base membermaintained in opposed spaced relation by said support means and havingconfronting converging roller surfaces terminating in spaced relation toeach other, said surfaces being generally normal to said base member,

0. a pair of friction rollers,

d. means for resiliently securing each of said rollers to saidconverging surface in a rest position in confronting relation to theother said roller with said rollers spaced apart a predetermineddistance, so that a workpiece when inserted through the space betweenthe terminals of said support members and between said confrontingrollers will urge said rollers in the direction away from said terminalsand alignment means are positioned on said base member to align saidrail between said rollers.

8. A gripping device comprising a. a support means comprising a basemember,

b. a pair of roller support members attached to said base membermaintained in opposed spaced relation by said support means and havingconfronting converging roller surfaces terminating in spaced relation toeach other, said surfaces being generally normal to said base member,

c. a pair of friction rollers,

d. means for resiliently securing each of said rollers to a saidconverging surface in a rest position in confronting relation to theother said roller with said rollers spaced apart a predetermineddistance, so that a workpiece when inserted through the space betweenthe terminals of said support members and between said confrontingrollers will urge said rollers in the direction away from said terminalsand be frictionally engaged by said resiliently secured rollers,whereupon movement of the workpiece in the direction of said terminalsincreases the gripping forces applied by the rollers, and

e. in combination therewith, a reciprocating means and a stationaryrail, whereby reciprocation of said gripping device advances thegripping device along said stationary rail by alternate gripping andreleasing of said rail by said gripping device.

9. A gripping device as described in claim 8 wherein alignment means arepositioned on said base member to align said rail between said rollers.

1. A gripping device comprising a. a support means comprising a basemember, b. a pair of roller support members attached to said base membermaintained in opposed spaced relation by said support means and havingconfronting converging roller sufaces terminating in spaced relation toeach other, said surfaces being generally normal to said base member. c.a pair of friction rollers, d. means for resiliently securing each ofsaid rollers to a said converging surface in a rest position inconfronting relation to the other said roller with said rollers spacedapart a predetermined distance, so that a workpiece when insertedthrough the space between the teminals of said support members andbetween said confronting rollers will urge said rollers in the directionaway from said terminals and be frictionally engaged by said resilientlysecured rollers, whereupon movement of the workpiece in the direction ofsaid terminals increases the gripping forces applied by the rollers,and, in combination, e. a workpiece disposed therebetween said rollers,and f. means for effecting relative reciprocation between the workpieceand the gripping device so as to effect a resultant unidirectionalrelative movement therebetween.
 2. The combination as described in claim1 wherein the workpiece is reciprocated and the gripping device movesunidirectionally relative to the workpiece.
 3. The combination asdescribed in claim 1 wherein the gripping device is reciprocated and theworkpiece moves unidirectionally relative to the gripping device.
 4. Agripping device comprising a. a support means comprising a base member,b. a pair of roller support members attached to said base membermaintained in opposed spaced relation by said support means and havingconfronting converging roller surfaces terminating in spaced relation toeach othEr said surfaces being generally normal to said base member, c.a pair of friction rollers, d. means for resiliently securing each ofsaid rollers to a said converging surface in a rest position inconfronting relation to the other said roller with said rollers spacedapart a predetermined distance, so that a workpiece when insertedthrough the space between the terminals of said support members andbetween said confronting rollers will urge said rollers in the directionaway from said terminals and be frictionally engaged by said resilientlysecured rollers, whereupon movement of the workpiece in the direction ofsaid terminals increases the gripping forces applied by the rollers, ande. in combination therewith, a rail adapted for reciprocation wherebysaid gripping device when positioned on said rail, with said railbetween said rollers, is by reciprocation of the rail advanced along therail by alternate gripping and releasing of the reciprocating rail bythe gripping device.
 5. A gripping device as described in claim 4wherein alignment means are positioned on said base member to align saidrail between said rollers.
 6. A gripping device comprising a. a supportmeans comprising a base member, b. a pair of roller support membersattached to said base member maintained in opposed spaced relation bysaid support means and having confronting converging roller surfacesterminating in spaced relation to each other, said surfaces beinggenerally normal to said base member, c. a pair of friction rollers, d.means for resiliently securing each of said rollers to said convergingsurface in a rest position in confronting relation to the other saidroller with said rollers spaced apart a predetermined distance, so thata workpiece when inserted through the space between the terminals ofsaid support members and between said confronting rollers will urge saidrollers in the direction away from said terminals and be frictionallyengaged by said resiliently secured rollers, whereupon movement of theworkpiece in the direction of said terminals increases the grippingforces applied by the rollers, and e. in combination therewith, areciprocating means, and a rail positioned between the rollers, wherebyreciprocation of the gripping device advances the rail through saidrollers by alternate gripping and releasing of the rail by the rollersof the reciprocating gripping device.
 7. A gripping device as describedin claim 6 wherein alignment means are positioned on said base member toalign said rail between said rollers.
 8. A gripping device comprising a.a support means comprising a base member, b. a pair of roller supportmembers attached to said base member maintained in opposed spacedrelation by said support means and having confronting converging rollersurfaces terminating in spaced relation to each other, said surfacesbeing generally normal to said base member, c. a pair of frictionrollers, d. means for resiliently securing each of said rollers to asaid converging surface in a rest position in confronting relation tothe other said roller with said rollers spaced apart a predetermineddistance, so that a workpiece when inserted through the space betweenthe terminals of said support members and between said confrontingrollers will urge said rollers in the direction away from said terminalsand be frictionally engaged by said resiliently secured rollers,whereupon movement of the workpiece in the direction of said terminalsincreases the gripping forces applied by the rollers, and e. incombination therewith, a reciprocating means and a stationary rail,whereby reciprocation of said gripping device advances the grippingdevice along said stationary rail by alternate gripping and releasing ofsaid rail by said gripping device.
 9. A gripping device as described inclaim 8 wherein alignment means are positioned on said base member toalign said rail between said rollers.